Action to reduce risk of measles epidemic

7 August 2008

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) welcomes an initiative by the Department of Health to make extra vaccine and more funds available to enable Primary Care Trusts to put in place a campaign to vaccinate every child up to the age of 18 against measles.

The number of measles cases in England is rising following a decade of relatively low uptake. In 2006 and 2007 there were 1,726 confirmed measles cases in England and Wales - more than in the previous 10 years put together. 

It is estimated that around three million children aged 18 months to 18 years have missed out on complete MMR vaccination and modelling by the HPA suggests that there is now a real risk of a large measles outbreak of up to approximately 100,000 cases. 

In the first six months of 2008, 656 cases of measles were confirmed in England, the vast majority (451) in London. However, the 49 cases confirmed in the North West in the same period was a higher figure than in any other region outside London.

Here in the North West, 49 cases of measles were confirmed in a six month period to the end of June this year. However, since the end of June, 35 further cases have been confirmed in West Lancashire alone during a current large-scale outbreak.    

There are currently eight probable measles cases in Cheshire and Merseyside, four of which have been confirmed by laboratory tests, and in the past three months there have been 16 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester, including the first two to be reported in the City of Manchester for two years.

Professor Elizabeth Miller, Head of Immunisation at the Health Protection Agency, said:

"Low vaccine uptake over the past decade means there is now a large group of children who either haven't been vaccinated or have received just one dose. These children are susceptible to measles, mumps and rubella.

"2007 saw the highest number of measles cases recorded in England and Wales since the current method of monitoring the disease was introduced in 1995.

"Measles is a very serious infection as it can lead to pneumonia and encephalitis. It is not possible to tell who will be seriously affected by measles. This is why it's incredibly important to remind parents about the benefits of having their child vaccinated with two doses of MMR for optimum protection. It is never too late to get vaccinated."

The Agency has reported year-on-year increases in cases of measles due to outbreaks in areas of the country where MMR uptake has dipped or been low for longer periods of time with some children becoming seriously ill. In June the Agency reported the second death from measles in the last two years. 

Immunisation leads in the Agency's local Health Protection Units will be working closely with their partners in the NHS to increase the number of children immunised and so head off the dangers of an epidemic.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors: 

1. In 2007, there were 971 confirmed cases recorded by the Agency, an increase of 31% from 740 confirmed cases in 2006.

2. Figures for confirmed measles up to end of June 2008 in the UK are as follows:

656 cases in England
2 cases in Wales
21 cases in Scotland
3 cases in Northern Ireland

North West - 49
North East - 8
South East - 27
South West - 26
East of England - 37
East Midlands - 3
West Midlands - 14
Yorkshire and Humberside - 41
London - 451

3. Latest vaccine coverage data shows that MMR uptake for children reaching 24 months of age between January and March 2008 is stable at 84.1% in the UK. 

4. For further information on the MMR vaccination catch up programme, visit the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk

5. For Health Protection Agency media enquiries please contact Hugh Lamont, HPA North West on 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

 

 

Last reviewed: 14 January 2009